Man Dies in Jet Ski Accident on Willamette River

News release from the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

Video and photo by Jerry Freeman Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - On Sunday, August 12 at approx 7:43pm, the Polk County Marine Patrol unit was notified of a boating accident Â3/4 mile up river from Wallace Marine Park involving a person being towed on an inner-tube behind a jet-ski.

The operator of the Jet-Ski (Salinas, Alejandro) was pulling his brother (Salinas, Enrique) behind a Honda Jet-Ski when they made a wide turn to head back towards Wallace Marine Park. When they made the turn, they ended up making the turn too wide which ended up swinging the inner-tube that Enrique was riding up on the rip-rap rocks on the west side of the river.

Alejandro had an observer on board Naba-Murillo, Geraldo (05/06/75) who quickly notified Alejandro who stopped to render aid to his brother while Geraldo drove the Jet-Ski back to Wallace Marine Park where he notified Deputy Chris Brodniak and Deputy Eric Berry who were on patrol in the area.

Upon arrival of the Deputies at the crash scene, it was determined that the crash was very serious and transported Alejandro and his brother Enrique back to Wallace Marine Park to meet the medics who were staged. The ramp was closed off for about 3 hours while the investigation took place.

Video from the scene by Salem-News.com's Jerry Freeman:

Salinas family members gathered at the park as well as Enrique's wife who was notified of the fatality of her husband.

The Medical Examiner and the District Attorney released the body to Macy and Sons Funeral Home at approx. 10:30pm and the ramp was re-opened for boaters to remove their boats.

Deceased:
Salinas, Enrique
06/30/74 38 years old
Salem, Oregon

Driver:
Salinas, Alejandro Alex
03/24/80 32 years old
Dayton, Oregon

Observer
Naba-Murillo, Geraldo
05/06/75 37 years old
Dayton, Oregon